We created this blog to highlight some of the many news stories out there involving drugs in some form or another. We plan on posting local, national, and world news articles, both stories that you may have heard about and stories that were probably overlooked or not reported by the mainstream media (which is what often happens). Basically, we think it would be nice to have an archive of some of the drug news stories we stumble across on a daily basis, and we'd like to share it with you.

Monday, March 13, 2006

OxyContin Gaining Popularity Among Abusers

Green Bay Police are investigating an armed robbery at a Walgreens drug store. It happened last night on East Mason Street. Police say a man walked in, handed the pharmacist a note demanding OxyContin, then showed a handgun. Police believe they found the same handgun outside the store in the parking lot. They're now hoping surveillance video will help them identify the suspect.

The theft at the Walgreens is the second OxyContin robbery in our area in the past week. Last Monday, a man walked into the Osco Drug on Velp Avenue in Howard. That suspect also handed the pharmacist a note demanding OxyContin and showed a handgun.

It's not a new drug, but the narcotic is gaining more and more popularity among abusers.

"The euphoria associated with it, it's longer acting. It will last twice as long as the old standard pain medications and there are multiple ways you can take it," says Dr. Vogel.

Doctors say people who abuse OxyContin are either taking the tablets orally, crushing it and snorting the powder, or in some cases, injecting it directly into their veins. But the high from OxyContin isn't the only reason why it's becoming more popular.

"They're maybe getting a dollar a milligram, so OxyContin tablets may be 10, 20, 30, 40, up to 80 milligrams a piece. If you're taking several of those a day, you can imagine the street value is pretty significant," says Dr. Vogel.

Doctors say OxyContin isn't something to mess around with. In addition to the possibility of becoming dependent on the drug, an overdose of OxyContin can also cause an altered mental status and respiratory depression.